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Hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness that can affect adults too. It usually clears up by itself in 7 to 10 days.

Check if it's hand, foot and mouth disease

The first signs of hand, foot and mouth disease can be:

  • A sore throat
  • A high temperature, above 38C
  • Not wanting to eat

After a few days mouth ulcers and a rash will appear.

Ulcers appear in the mouth and on the tongue. These can be painful and make it difficult to eat or drink.

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Red spots, which develop into blisters, usually appear on the hands and feet.

 

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The blisters are grey in the centre and can be painful.

The symptoms are usually the same in adults and children, but they can be much worse in adults.

It's possible to get hand, foot and mouth disease more than once. 

If you're not sure it's hand, foot and mouth disease
  • Look at other childhood rashes
  • Hand, foot and mouth disease has nothing to do with foot and mouth disease, which affects farm animals.
How to treat hand, foot and mouth disease yourself

You can't take antibiotics or medicines to cure hand, foot and mouth disease – it has to run its course. It usually gets better in 7 to 10 days.

To help with the symptoms:

  • Drink fluids to prevent dehydration – avoid acidic drinks such as fruit juice
  • Eat soft foods like soup – avoid hot and spicy foods
  • Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help ease a sore mouth or throat.
A pharmacist can help with hand, foot and mouth disease

Speak to your pharmacist for advice about treatments, such as mouth ulcer gels, sprays and mouthwashes to relieve pain.

They can tell you which ones are suitable for children.

See your GP if:
  • Symptoms don't improve after 7 to 10 days
  • You or your child has a very high temperature, or feels hot and shivery
  • You're worried about your child's symptoms
  • Your child is dehydrated – has sunken eyes, is drowsy or has not passed urine for 12 hours
  • You're pregnant and get hand, foot and mouth disease.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is infectious so check with your GP surgery before going. They may suggest a phone consultation.

How to stop hand, foot and mouth disease spreading

Hand, foot and mouth disease is easily passed on to other people. It's spread in coughs, sneezes and poo.

You're infectious from a few days before you have any symptoms and you are also infectious for the first 5 days after your symptoms start.

To reduce the risk of spreading hand, foot and mouth disease:

  • Wash your hands often with warm soapy water – and teach children to do so
  • Use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
  • Throw used tissues in the bin as fast as possible
  • Don't share towels or household items like cups or cutlery
  • Wash soiled bedding and clothing on a hot wash.
Staying off school or nursery

Your child can go back to school/nursery after 5 days from when the symptoms started, provided they are feeling better.

Hand, foot and mouth disease in pregnancy

Although there's normally no risk to the pregnancy or baby, it's best to avoid close contact with anyone who has hand, foot and mouth disease.

This is because:

  • Having a high temperature during the first 3 months of pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, although this is very rare
  • Getting hand, foot and mouth disease shortly before birth can mean the baby is born with a mild version of it.

Speak to your GP or midwife if you have been in contact with someone with hand, foot and mouth disease.

Call 111

If you can't speak to your GP and don't know what to do next.